Armour

Update: Story is updated below with Under Armour comment. Is it patriotism or poor taste? That's the Internet debate after Northwestern University showed off new, flag-themed football uniforms designed to honor veterans and raise money and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project. Uniforms designed by the team's outfitter, Baltimore-based Under Armour, somewhat resemble the sports apparel brand's flag-inspired "Maryland Pride" uniforms for the University of Maryland.

Under Armour plans to build its third U.S. distribution center in a suburb of Nashville, the Baltimore-based sports apparel maker said Thursday. The 1 million-square-foot-warehouse, a more than $100 million investment for the sports brand, will be built in Mount Juliet, Tenn., and will open in early 2016, the company said. Under Armour also has distribution centers in Baltimore and Rialto, Calif. The Tennessee warehouse will employ 1,500 workers over the next five years. The company operates two Under Armour Factory House retail stores in the state, in Nashville and Sevierville.

Under Armour, in the midst of its biggest-ever campaign targeting women, has signed supermodel Gisele Bundchen, the Baltimore-based sports brand revealed today in a 30-second teaser video on YouTube. "Under Armour announces the signing of Gisele Bündchen, international fashion icon and athletic female, as the latest addition to the I WILL WHAT I WANT campaign," the company said in an emailed statement after posting the video. "Coming September 4. " A company spokeswoman offered no additional details.

A near doubling in Under Armour's stock price over the past year helped drive CEO Kevin Plank past Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti in the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans. Plank is worth $3 billion, according to the financial magazine, up from $1.7 billion a year ago. He has climbed from No. 345 to No. 327 to No. 190 over the past three years. Bisciotti, whose wealth comes both from the Ravens and the staffing firm Allegis Group, is worth $2.6 billion, ranking No. 235 on the list.

Under Armour will outfit all Naval Academy varsity teams starting in the 2014-2015 season, the Baltimore-based sports brand announced Thursday. The agreement with the Naval Academy Athletic Association, which makes Under Armour official outfitter of all 33 men's and women's teams, also includes marketing and promotional opportunities. The affiliation is Under Armour's 12th Division 1 all-school partnership. "Under Armour is extremely proud to outfit the outstanding men and women who not only represent our home state of Maryland but also uphold the highest standards of the true student-athlete," Matt Mirchin, Under Armour executive vice president of global marketing, said in the announcement.

Baltimore-based Under Armour hosted a press event in New York City Tuesday to introduce what the company has dubbed "its biggest ever global marketing campaign. " While the new "I Will" campaign recalls the old "Will you protect this house?" commercial that first helped the company become popular -- the respondents always answered "I will!" -- the new spot released Tuesday focuses on an area that has become increasingly important: high-end technology and innovation. Let's just say that the commercial ends with a woman adjusting the composition and color of her clothing by using a touch screen built into her sleeve.

Under Armour's proposal to double the size of its Locust Point headquarters in South Baltimore has been sent to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake for final approval. The Baltimore City Council on Monday night approved changes that would allow the $1 billion global sports apparel company to build a new office tower and the city's first Under Armour store and expand other office buildings on its waterfront campus. The mayor is supporting a request from the city's economic development agency for up to $35 million in city tax increment financing for infrastructure projects near the campus, a mayoral spokesman said Tuesday.

Baltimore sports apparel company Under Armour said this morning that it has signed Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin to an endorsement deal. The eight-year veteran is a three-time Pro Bowler and was the 2003 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. As part of the deal, Boldin will wear Under Armour cleats and apparel and make appearances at stores and in television and print advertising spots. Other athletes who have signed with Under Armour in recent years include Miles Austin, Ray Lewis Brandon Jacobs and Vernon Davis.

Under Armour has lost its apparent bid for an endorsement deal with Johnny Manziel, the former Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner known as "Johnny Football. " Manziel, the possible first overall pick in the NFL draft, has signed a multi-year marketing deal with Under Armour rival Nike, ESPN reported. Though Nike, which confirmed the agreement to ESPN, did not release financial terms, ESPN said the marketing rights will come at the highest price for a rookie in this year's class.

Under Armour may not want to talk about "Duck Dynasty," but fans of the now controversial reality show took to the Baltimore-based company's social media accounts this weekend to praise Under Armour for sticking by the embattled franchise. Other than a brief statement condeming star Phil Robertson's comments, representatives from Under Armour have not responded to multiple requests for comment. Interviewed in GQ magazine, Robertson called homosexuality a sin and said African Americans were "happy" in the pre-civil-rights era south.

It's hard to imagine what the snarling football coaches of yesteryear — think Bear Bryant or Woody Hayes — would have made of the poetry on the helmet and sleeves of the uniforms the University of Maryland played in Saturday. But the Under Armour designers of Maryland's "Star-Spangled" uniforms, which highlight the Francis Scott Key poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry" in cursive, would like to think that the old-school coaches might have approved. The uniforms, which the Terrapins wore in Saturday's home loss to West Virginia, were intended to promote the team and inspire players and fans.

Football players sometimes get creative with their ankle tape. Instead of wrapping their feet before a game, they ask a trainer to loop white or brightly colored tape around the outside of the shoe in a way that obscures the shoe company's logo. Known as "spatting," it is considered a fashion statement by some and by others a safeguard against sprained ankles. But it better not occur at the University of Maryland. After an initial warning, the school would be liable for at least $160,000 for a second violation and a minimum of $240,000 for a third offense, according to the new contract between the university and Under Armour, its official outfitter.

Under Armour will continue to supply uniforms to the University of Maryland's varsity teams under a 10-year extension deal announced Tuesday. The Baltimore-based sports brand will continue to design and supply game-day uniforms as well as footwear, apparel and equipment for training for all men's and women's varsity teams. "The University of Maryland is an integral part of Under Armour's history, culture and identity," Matt Mirchin, Under Armour's executive vice president of global marketing, said in the company's announcement.

Under Armour has overtaken Adidas this year in combined apparel and footwear sales to become the second biggest sports brand in the United States. Baltimore-based Under Armour had U.S. apparel and footwear sales of $1.2 billion through the end of August, edging ahead of Adidas with $1.1 billion total U.S. sales, according to a Sterne Agee report citing sales figures from SportScanInfo. Under Armour sales have jumped 20 percent this year, while Adidas combined sales have plummeted 23 percent.

"Stick to modeling Sweetie. " "Is modeling now a sport?" "She's old. " "OMG. I love her. " Such are the "real comments from critics and supporters" reacting to Under Armour's announcement earlier this week that the brand signed Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen to its women's marketing campaign, Under Armour says. After posting a video teaser about the Bundchen partnership on Tuesday, the Baltimore-based sports apparel company unveiled the full ad this morning.

Nike pulled out all the stops to prevent Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant , a Washington native, from signing a shoe deal with Baltimore-based Under Armour. Durant's seven-year contract with Nike is expiring, and Under Armour reportedly offered him a 10-year deal worth $265million to $285 million. However, Nike has exercised its right to match any rival shoe company's offer to the NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player, according to ESPN. Nike officials on Saturday told Durant and his representatives at Jay Z 's Roc Nation Sports that they would match Under Armour's offer.

The vice president of retail for sports apparel maker Under Armour has resigned, the Baltimore-based company said Tuesday. Dan Sawall, who has overseen retail for Under Armour since February 2010, will resign effective Friday, Under Armour said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Before he worked at Under Armour, Sawall served in merchandising roles for Golfsmith, US Nike Factory Stores, the d.e.m.o. division of Pacific Sunwear and Guess? Under Armour said it planned to evaluate its retail business' leadership and organizational structure.